Ancient and Historical Heritage of Iloilo City

by Jeffrey Celiz
Iloilo City is indeed a repository of ancient and historical heritage. Every visitor can not miss-out the iconic imagery that these structures impose on the viewers percep on. The mixture of its colonial past and western inuence is a unique feature of Iloilo Citys line-up of cultural and ar s c treasures. Historical records a est to the fact that Iloilo City had been a prominent place hos ng the religious-poli cal power of the Spanish Authority during the colonial period. Of course we cant deny the fact that the rst poli cal structure of Spanish Colonial Power in the en re Philippine Archipelago was established in the town of Oton, Iloilo, (the site of rst Encomienda System). So it is not surprising if a lot of districts in Iloilo City had been adjunct of this Center of colonial poli cal authority. Molo District and Jaro are the most commonly referred to as the place of Alcalde Mayor. The famous Jaro Cathedral and the prominent Jaro Belfry across it are among the monuments of religious heritage in Iloilo City. Un l today, Jaro Cathedral s ll symbolizes and literally hosts the main Catholic Churchs hierarchical center of authority. The Jaro Belfry survived a major earthquake disaster some me before the outbreak of World War II. Presently , it is a symbol of strong colonial heritage in the city. Calle Real or the main downtown area of Iloilo City does not only host the tradi onal trading bazaars of old entrepreneurial Chinese families. Old Spanish Houses of the illustrados (the rich Spanish mes zo families) s ll adorn its far end area along the road going to Plaza Libertad (JM Basa St.) These colonial houses which age more than a century since they were rst built have their counterparts in the old mansions of the Mon nolas, and Lizares in Jaro District. American inuences can be seen all over the city, especially in Jaro district with street names taken from former American presidents and dignitaries like Sco , Smith, Lincoln and Washington. The Philippine American Cemetery situated along the main road of Commission Civil is a tes monial monument of a long history of Filipino - American friendship. It is dis nguished as the only American cemetery outside Luzon and Metro Manila. The Filipino - American cemetery is considered one of the dis nct heritage in Iloilo City. The glorious and colorful history of Iloilo City is more vividly preserved in the monuments of heritage that con nue to amaze visitors who come to the city. Wri en historical records may only possess the informa on of the past but they can never take the place of living heritage as undying tes monies of a people, their struggles, aspira ons, dreams and their cultural uniqueness. This is the living tes mony of Iloilo Citys ancient and historical heritage.

Informa on & Contacts

HON. JERRY P. TREAS Congressman, Lone District of Iloilo City 2/F Agriculturist Bldg.,Gen. Peralta St. Brgy. Aduana, Iloilo City Tel. No. (+6333) 336.84.42/300.30.23 email: jerry_trenas@yahoo.com HON. JED PATRICK E. MABILOG City Mayor, Iloilo City 3/F Robinsons Place, Iloilo City Tel. No. (+6333) 337.00.85 Fax No. (+6333) 335.06.89 email: jedmabilog@iloilocity.gov.ph

MR. FRANCIS T. CRUZ Execu ve Assistant for Economic Promo ons 3/F Robinsons Place, Iloilo City Tel. No. (+6333) 336.38.53 email: eacmo@yahoo.com

MR. BENITO T. JIMENA Tourism Ocer, Iloilo City Dinagyang Lounge, Freedom Grandstand Tel. No. (+6333) 336.75.72 / 336.34.39 Fax No. (+6333) 337.21.72 email: benitojimena@yahoo.com

www.iloilocity.gov.ph

Mayors Hotline: (+63)(33) 333.35.33 / 300.05.33 Ho

Emergency Assistance Numbers:
ILOILO CITY POLICE OFFICE (ICPO) POLICE ASSISTANCE POLICE CENTRAL OFFICE/CRIS OFFICE PP1 - City Proper PP2 - La Paz District PP3 - Jaro District PP4 - Molo District PP5 - Mandurriao District PP6 - Arevalo District Iloilo City Emergency Response Team (24 hrs. emergency response service) 337-0400/335-1254 166 337-3499 337-9022 329-0904/508-0116 329-7958 337-9502 300-9527 337-9593 335-1554

The Philippine American Cemetery situated along the main road of Commission Civil is a tes monial monument of a long history of Filipino - American friendship. It is dis nguished as the only American cemetery outside Luzon and Metro Manila. The Filipino - American cemetery is considered one of the dis nct heritage in Iloilo City.

Magdalena Jalandonis Residence Commission Civil St., Jaro, Iloilo City contains collecons of Magdalena Jalandonis works the 1st Republic Cultural Heritage awardee in Literature in 1969.

Villa Lizares Mansion/ Angelicum School Iloilo It was once the mansion and villa of the Lizares Family sold to the Dominican Order of the Philippines in the 1970s and now the seat of Angelicum School, a Catholic School run by the Dominican Order of Preachers.

The stand-out Baroque architectural design of Molo Church (St. Anne Parish) reects the dominant inuence of Catholicism in Iloilo. From an early place used to be known as a Chinese Ghe o to the seat of Spanish authority in the south western side of Iloilo, Molo Church is astonishingly a surviving heritage of Iloilo City. It resembles the deep spirituality of the Ilonggos and an enduring legacy of majes c ar stry handed down from genera ons to genera ons, from the complexi es of a colonial past.

The famous Jaro Cathedral is among the monuments of religious heritage in Iloilo City. Un l today, it stands as an iconic symbol of the strong inuence of Catholic faith among the Ilonggos. The church houses the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Candles with its Feast Day being celebrated every 2nd of February.

Casa Mon nola y Sanson The house is reminiscent of the Gaston house in Silay, Negros Occidental. The similari es can be explained by the fact that most of the rich families of Iloilo, at one point, all transferred to Bacolod, ins gated largely by the spirit of unionism that had workers clamoring for reforms.

Sinamay House Filipinos are fond of wearing their best clothing during special occasions: Wedding, christening, Christmas, par es, or Sunday masses. The style and design is as important as the fabric used. One of Filipinos nest fabric is in Iloilos weaving industry. These include woven tex les from abaca and pineapple, co on and silk since the pre-Spanish period. It was in the 19th century when tex le produc on in Iloilo reached a remarkable development that it was referred to as the tex le center of the Philippines. Although towards the end of nineteenth century, it has lost its importance when it became a sugar entry point in the region. Many Ilonggo entrepreneurs shi ed from weaving to sugar produc on. And the sale of cheaper English co on materials increased and later eliminated the local market of Iloilos tex le. Its dwindling industry discouraged most Ilonggos to engage on it but to this day, it has survived in the Arevalo Sinamay House, a true mark of unique Ilonggo culture and ingenuity. Courtesy of: Wein P. Gadian
Photos by: Mark Vic Rejaba, Arnold Naldoza, Jr., Mark Anthony Yap, Jose Roni Pealosa, Erna Foerster, Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conserva on Council

Nellys Garden This grand mansion sits on the four-hectare property in Jaro. Built by Don Vicente Lopez in 1928 and named a er his daughter Nelly. The Nellys Garden exemplies what the life of the rich and auent sugar barons then.

Sto. Nio de Arevalo Parish Known as the ower capital of Iloilo, Villa de Arevalo is home to one of the oldest churches where the 3rd oldest original Sto. Nio image in the Philippines is enshrined. There are only three original images of the child Jesus in the whole archipelago. The oldest is found in Cebu, which was discovered by Legaspi in 1565, the other one in Tondo Church found in 1572 and the 3rd one is in Arevalo Church which was discovered in 1581. Courtesy of: (h p://visita-iglesia.com)